Texas Rangers - TeamReport

Texas manager Ron Washington pondered for several seconds the question just presented to him.

What has been the biggest positive to you in the first half about your team?

"Did you take the time to think about that question," Washington asked.

There have been very few positives.

A team that expected to be World Series caliber after acquiring first baseman Prince Fielder and left fielder Shin-Soo Choo has instead collapsed under the weight of a two-ton boulder called the disabled list.

Rather, the Rangers will feature something more closely resembling a Triple A-caliber team in the second half.

The Rangers, who lead the majors in disabled list uses and most players used, closed the first half with the worst record in baseball. Only 10 players who broke with the team at spring training remain on the active roster.

In the first half, Texas used an MLB-record 50 players, including 30 pitchers.

"It's much-needed time off," said shortstop Elvis Andrus. "Everybody needs three or four days off to clear our mind and have some fun."

Texas was 35-35 on June 16 after having taken two of three games from Seattle on the road, including beating All-Star right-hander Felix Hernandez. Since then, the Rangers have gone 3-21 and to the bottom of the AL West.

"Couldn't have imagined it," Washington said. "You put nine guys out there, they have to perform."

Instead of vying for a division title, the Rangers will be evaluating, young and older alike, to see who can help them next year and beyond.

The second half will be about player development on the big-league level.

It's difficult to see exactly what the Rangers are at this point. If everyone comes back healthy next year, they should be expected to contend again.

If not ... well, the Rangers expect to know some of those answers to that hypothetical by the end of this season.

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MLB Team Report - Texas Rangers - NOTES, QUOTES

RECORD: 38-57

STREAK: Lost eight

FIRST-HALF MVP: It's difficult to grasp where the Rangers would be without All-Star 3B Adrian Beltre. After a slow April in which he missed 14 games, Beltre, who closed the first half hitting 23-for-59 in his last 16 games, has been as good as any hitter in the American League. He's hit 90-for-254 since the beginning of May to raise his average from .255 to .337. And he's done it by going to every part of the field. "Through all of this turmoil, Beltre continues to be a pro," manager Ron Washington said. "It's very easy to let down mentally. Big-time pros never let down mentally. He's here every day mentally, regardless."

FIRST-HALF-GRADE: F -- The Rangers, having acquired LF Shin-Soo Choo and 1B Prince Fielder to fill in big holes in an offense lacking in 2013, believed they were serious contenders in the AL. Ownership stepped up to take on Choo's price tag of $130 million over seven years and were on the hook for $114 with Fielder. Both have been injury busts. Choo has been bothered by a sore ankle and the Rangers hope Fielder's declining numbers over the past two years had more to do with the herniated disc in his neck that sidelined him for the season. In truth, even if those guys stayed healthy, the Rangers probably still needed another bat, considering Mitch Moreland (career .252 hitter, inconsistent power numbers) was penciled in as the DH before he, too, was lost to injury. Every piece of the rotation, save for Yu Darvish and Colby Lewis, have been sidelined because of injuries, some of them recurring. During its first-half slide, the team has often appeared disengaged and sloppy. Before Sunday, Texas was riding a streak of five consecutive games with an error.

PIVOTAL POST-BREAK PLAYER: CF Leonys Martin is one player who needs to show he can play every day in center field. Offensively, he's either very inconsistent or consistent, depending on your perspective. Bottom line: He needs to be a better hitter against left-handed pitchers. This season, Martin has hit .291 against right-handers and .184 against left-handers. Those aren't every-day numbers or numbers that give team officials any confidence he can be a viable leadoff option. Martin, in his second full MLB season, needs to grow defensively, too. Too often he misses cutoff men and throws home are often wide.